Safety device for mining-cars.



w. KOWALSKI. SAFETY DEVICE FOR MINING CARS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 16 915.

. Patented Nov. 2, 1915.

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WILIJAM li weltsat or cn qas imm rs- SAFETY DEVICE Fora 'MINlLIGr-CABS.

Application filedFebruary 16, 1915. Serial No. 8,677. i

it has particular reference tojthat class of cars which are operated on an inclined plane, thesame being lowered by gravity and raised by means of a cable that is wound, on a drum operated by suitable power at the mouth of the mine,

The invention has particular reference to safety devices employedin connection with cars of this type for the purpose of checking the same and preventing gravitational idescent in case of breakage or injury to the hoisting apparatus; such safety device including a third rail interposed between the track rails and grab means carried by the car and cooperating automatically with such third rail in case of necessity. I

The invention has for its object to simplify and improve the safety mechanism and to produce a hook which will unfailingly operate in conjunction with the third rail when an emergency arises.

A further object of the invention is to produce a simple and efficient construction whereby the hook may be restored and maintained in position for coupling the car with other cars until the beginning of the ascent or descent, as the case may be.

With these and other ends in view which; will readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same con -v sists in the improved construction and noveL arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modifications within the scope of the claim may be resorted to when desired. p

In the clrawings,Figure 1 is a plan view of a car frame equipped with the invention. Fig. 2 is'a longitudinal sectional view showing the device in position for coupling with Specification of Letters Patent.

Paten ed liiov. 2; 9

.other cars Ijlig. 3v is aside elevation showlg thB.,l0 llI1g dog disengaged from the ratchet. F 1g. 4 1s a longitudinal sectional .V-ieyv showin'gthe safety device-inoperation. @or gponding parts [1n the several figures are denoted by like, characters of reference.

Th flame. of the improved car is composed of side members 15 and end members 16, the latter being 1 rounded, as shown.

side and end members are preferably constructed of angle steel of proper dimeni sions'to enable-the frame to. resist any strain to 'Wh-l@h it will be subjected, reinforcing blocksuorbumper blockslY; being used at the corners of the frame.v "The mechanism of car framdbut as the construction of the two ends is identical, the description of one will arplyto' both ends;

-."L[.h e end member lGat each end of the car frame is 'apertured for the passage of a draft hook or coupling hook 18 which is slidablelongitudinally through the aperture 19, the latter being suflioiently large to enable thedraft hook to; betilted in a vertical plane. The draft hook is connected with one end of adraw bar 20, the other end of which is notched vertically to produce two ears 21. v

Supported for oscillation in the side members15 adjacent to the blocks 17 is a rock shaft 22 on which the safety hook 23 is firmly securedfi Said hook which normally extends forwardly with respect to the rock shaft 22 has a reversely turned bill 24 which is pivotally supported betweenthe ears 21 of thedraw bar by means of a transverse pin or pivot member 25. The rock shaft 22 is provided with radial arms 26 which are connected by means of springs 27 with similar arms 28 extending radially from a shaft or cross bar 29 which is rigidly mounted between the side members 15 in rear of the rock shaft 22. The tension of the springs 27 will be normally exerted to rock the shaft 22 to throw the safety hook 23 in a downward direction, causing the bill thereof to engage the teeth or ratchets 30 of the safety rail 31 which is located between the track rails 32. It willbe seen that the hook 23 and the draw bar 20 may be regarded as constituting a toggle and that stress in a forward direction on the draft hook 18 will tend to straighten out the arms of said the safety device is used at each end fo-f-zthe 'the springs 27 and sustaining the hook Copies of this patent may be obtained for 23 normally out of engagement with the teeth 30.

As the hook 18 is not always under stress 7 or tension it is desirable'to provide special means for the purpose of temporarily maintaining the safety hook out of engagement with the teeth of the safety rail. end the rock shaft 22 is provided with a ratchet wheel 33 engaged by a dog or pawl 34:, whereby the rock shaft may be held securely when the springs 27 are under tension. Said rock shaft is preferably provided With a wrench seat 35 for the reception of a. crank whereby it may be turned for the purpose of placing the springs under tension. In this manner the safety hook maybe positively maintained out of engagement with the safety rail when stress is not exerted on the hook 18. As soon as said hook is placed under tension by the action of the hoisting mechanism the dog 34 is to be disengaged from the ratchet wheel 33.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto anneXed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood by To this those skilled in the art to which it appertains. The improved safety device is simple in construction, inexpensive and thoroughly eifective for the purposes for which it is provided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In a device of the class described, a rock shaft carrying a safety hook, a draft member pivotally connected with said hook and combining therewith to form a toggle, arms extending radially from the rock shaft, a stationary bar or shaft supported in parallel relation to the rock shaft and'having radial arms, and springs connecting the last mentioned arms with the radial arms of the rock shaft, in combination with a ratchet wheel on the rock shaft, a dog engaging said ratchet wheel, and a wrench seat on the rock shaft to receive a crank whereby it may be turned to place the springs under tension.

In testimony whereof I aiiiX my signaturein presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM KOWALSKI.

Witnesses:

GUsTAvn ZwINGnR, MIKE DONARSKI.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents Washington, I). C. 

